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6 Jul 2004 : Column 619W—continued
Smokies
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Department keeps records of human health problems arising from the consumption of smokies; [182209]
(2) whether the Department has commissioned work from the Food Standards Agency on the legal production of smokies; [182210]
(3) whether the Department keeps figures on the trade in smokies in the UK; [182211]
(4) whether his Department has commissioned studies on smokies production. [182212]
Miss Melanie Johnson
[holding answers 5 July 2004]: Production of smokies, which are singed carcases of sheep and goats, mainly sheep, with skin attached, is not
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permitted by European Union food safety legislation, which requires all sheep and goat carcases to be completely flayed as part of the dressing process. Trade in such products is therefore illegal.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is responsible for food safety legislation in the United Kingdom, is aware of the existence of an illegal trade in smokies, particularly to certain ethnic communities, but does not hold data on the size of the trade.
The FSA collects information about foodborne disease, but information about health problems arising from the consumption of smokies is not collected separately. No outbreaks associated with the consumption of smokies have been reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) communicable disease surveillance centre. In addition to this, case control studies conducted by the HPA and the former Public Health Laboratory Service have not identified smokies as a risk factor for sporadic infection.
Because of the potential public health risks posed by illegally produced smokies, the FSA has commissioned research to determine whether smokies can be produced safely. The research aims to investigate whether a hygienic procedure and acceptable meat inspection is possible when producing sheep carcases with the "skin-on". If such procedures could be identified, the FSA may consider seeking changes to European Union legislation to permit such production. Results of the research should be available by November 2005.
Smoking
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the smoking rate for manual groups in England was in each year since 1990. [180314]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information is shown in the table.
| Non-manual | Manual | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unweighted | |||
| 1990 | 24 | 35 | 29 |
| 1992 | 23 | 33 | 28 |
| 1994 | 21 | 32 | 26 |
| 1996 | 22 | 34 | 28 |
| 1998 | 21 | 32 | 27 |
| Weighted | |||
| 1998 | 22 | 33 | 28 |
| 2000 | 23 | 31 | 27 |
| 2001 | 21 | 32 | 27 |
| 2002 | 20 | 31 | 26 |
Notes:
1. In 2001, the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC) was introduced for all official statistics and surveys. It replaces Social Class based on occupation and Socio-Economic Group (SEG). There is no longer a manual/non-manual split in the NS-SEC, however, the old socio-economic groupings have been recreated in order to continue monitoring the Cancer Plan target.
2. In 2000, the decision was made to weight the data to compensate for under representation of people in some groups. The table shows weighted and unweighted data for 1998 to give an indication of the effect of weighting. Caution should be exercised when comparing weighted data for 2000 onwards with unweighted data for previous years.
Source:
Office for National Statistics, "Living in Britain: Results from the General Household Survey", 1990 to 2002.
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Health Professionals Training Costs
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 159W, on health professionals training costs, whether the costs cover the whole training course. [181209]
Mr. Hutton: The figures in the previous answer cover tuition costs only for the whole length of the course. In addition, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy students could be entitled to a means tested bursary, which in 2003–04 averaged £3,696 per annum. The cost of training post-registration health visiting and district nursing students excludes their pre-registration training costs of £19,370, excluding bursaries.
Treatment Costs
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS of treating (a) illnesses attributable to smoking, (b) illnesses attributable to obesity, (c) diabetes and (d) diabetes in children was in the last year for which figures are available. [179956]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Smoking costs the national health service up to £1.7 billion a year in England.
The National Audit Office report "Tackling Obesity in England" estimated that the cost to the NHS of treating the consequences of obesity in 1998 was approximately £469.9 million per year.
Information is not collected centrally on how much is spent on the treatment of diabetes. However, using the results of a study undertaken in Glamorgan in the mid-1990s 1 it has been estimated that around 5 per cent. of total national health service resources are used for the care of people with diabetes.
1 (NHS acute sector expenditure for diabetes: the present, future, and excess in-patient cost of care. Currie CJ, "et al". 1997. "Diabetic Medicine," 14: 686–692).
Waste Management
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) targets and (b) strategies there are in the NHS (i) to minimise waste and manage waste sustainably, (ii) to reduce energy use and (iii) to encourage sustainable procurement; and if he will make a statement. [181210]
Mr. Hutton: For the national health service in England, there is one target in respect of these areas, which is for the reduction of energy consumption by 15 per cent., or 0.15 million tonnes carbon between 2000 and 2010.
To assist the NHS work towards minimising waste and encouraging sustainable waste management and procurement, NHS Estates (NHSE) has published best practice advice, guidance and software tools. Additional guidance for procurement has been developed by NHS
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Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA). NHSE has issued a new environmental strategy for the NHS in England to enable trusts to set local strategies and action plans in respect of waste, energy, procurement, transport and water. Further work is being developed to produce a total waste management strategy with PASA and also an energy/carbon strategy for use by trusts later this year.
Wind Turbines
Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has collated on the health implications of infrasound emitted by wind turbines. [160640]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 11 March 2004]: The Department has funded work on the effects of environmental noise on health, but this has not included noise produced by wind farms.
PRIME MINISTER
Iraq
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 30 June 2004, Official Report, column 299, on US abuses of Iraqi detainees, when British intelligence officers first became aware of abuses against Iraqi detainees by American personnel; when they advised the UK Government of these abuses, when their concerns were made known to the US authorities and at what level; and what response the US authorities made. [182519]
The Prime Minister: As my letter to the Intelligence and Security Committee made clear, none of the UK intelligence personnel interviewing detainees witnessed any evidence of detainee abuse of the type that the United States authorities have acknowledged occurred in Iraq.
The Intelligence and Security Committee has made clear that they will be taking further evidence on these issues and the Government will cooperate fully with them.
ISC Annual Report
Chris Ruane: To ask the Prime Minister when he will respond to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual Report 2003–04. [182697]
The Prime Minister: I am today laying before the House the Government's Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual Report for 2003–04. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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